Main Character Types In TV Procedurals

Jennifer Dornbush, author of “Forensic Speak”, has defined several key procedural character types. These are:

1) INVESTIGATOR PROTAGONIST – leads the investigation

2) CRIMINAL ANTAGONIST – perpetrator of the crime

3) SUSPECTS – at least one of which committed the crime
There are typically three suspects in TV procedurals. The first two are red herrings and the third is the culprit.

Other notable character types on these TV shows include victims, advocates and friends of victims, witnesses, accomplices, advocates and friends of criminals, mentors to investigators, the rookie or unorthodox cop and a love interest (past and present).